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OUAGADOUGOU, August 18, 2025 — The government of Burkina Faso has declared United Nations regional coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak persona non grata, following the publication of a UN report alleging grave violations against children in the country. The decision, announced Monday by a government spokesperson, marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the West African nation and the international body.
The report, titled Children and Armed Conflict in Burkina Faso, was released earlier this year and documents over 2,400 verified violations against more than 2,200 children between July 2022 and June 2024. These include cases of child recruitment, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals, allegedly committed by both jihadist groups and government-aligned forces.
🧾 Government Response
Burkinabe authorities condemned the report as “baseless” and accused the UN of publishing “serious and false information” without consulting the government or providing supporting documentation. Officials claimed they were not involved in the report’s preparation and were unaware of its conclusions prior to publication.
In a formal communiqué, the government stated that Flore-Smereczniak, who was appointed UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in July 2024, had co-chaired the drafting process and was therefore complicit in what it described as “a compilation of unfounded claims”.
🌍 Regional Context
Burkina Faso has been grappling with a decade-long insurgency involving militant groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The conflict has intensified since a series of military coups between 2020 and 2023, with the ruling junta expelling French forces and turning to Russian mercenary groups for security assistance.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about abuses committed by both state and non-state actors, including the use of child soldiers and extrajudicial killings. The UN has previously called for independent investigations into alleged atrocities, including the deaths of civilians in counterterrorism operations.
🗣️ International Reaction
There has been no immediate response from UN officials in Geneva or New York regarding the expulsion. The move is expected to complicate humanitarian coordination efforts in Burkina Faso, where over two million people are internally displaced and in need of assistance.
Diplomatic observers warn that the decision could further isolate Burkina Faso from international partners and hinder efforts to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region.
